The Red Devils have now lost 17 of 33 Premier League matches under Ruben Amorim in charge.
Their 3-1 loss at Brentford left Manchester United sitting 14th, having already suffered three defeats in their first six matches of the campaign.
Pressure is mounting on Ruben Amorim after the result, with several former players speaking out. Among them, United’s all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney admitted he’s lost faith in the current manager.
Despite the criticism, Amorim maintained that facing scrutiny is part of the job. He defended his chosen formation, insisting his tactical system isn’t the real issue — instead, he points to execution and individual mistakes as bigger concerns.
Ruben Amorim, continues to trust his 3-4-2-1 setup at Manchester United, even if the results don’t support it yet.
In his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Sunderland, Amorim was asked about Wayne Rooney’s criticism. The Portuguese coach didn’t shy away from the subject. “It’s normal,” he said. “You can’t run away from the results. And then there’s the baggage from last season — but for me, last season doesn’t matter.”
Amorim has come under growing pressure after United’s poor start, with a 3-1 defeat to Brentford leaving them 14th in the table. Former players, including Rooney, have voiced concerns, with some even questioning if he’s the right man for the job.
Despite this, Amorim insists he will not walk away. He admitted that results must improve quickly if he is to keep his role but remains confident that the squad can turn things around. “I’m not resigning,” he stressed. “The only way to keep the job is by winning matches — and that’s the focus now.”
Saturday’s clash with Sunderland is now seen as a must-win, not only to lift United up the table but also to ease the mounting pressure on their manager.
Ruben Amorim Defends his system
Ruben Amorim once again defended his 3-4-2-1 system, insisting Manchester United’s struggles are not down to his formation. “We already spoke about that,” he said. “We’ve had six games this season, and yes, we lost three. But we need to look at how those games were lost.”
He pointed out specific matches as examples. “If we lost to Arsenal because of the system, then it’s your job to say that. But against Manchester City, was the system really the first thing people thought about when the game started? I don’t think so. And with Brentford, the goals we conceded and the chances we created had nothing to do with the system. That’s my opinion.”
Amorim stressed he isn’t suggesting a different formation would automatically solve United’s problems, but he strongly believes the blame lies elsewhere. “When I watch back the games we didn’t win, the system is not the reason. If something doesn’t work, it won’t work every day — but we’ve had weekends where it worked. That shows the issue is not the system. People will always have different opinions, and that’s okay.”
The Portuguese coach has come under intense pressure after a poor start to the season, with United sitting 14th in the table following a 3-1 defeat at Brentford. Critics, including Wayne Rooney, argue his tactics are holding the team back, while fans grow restless over the lack of progress.
Amorim, though, remains defiant. He insists that consistency, sharper finishing, and fewer defensive errors are the keys to turning things around. With Sunderland up next, he knows results must improve quickly if he is to ease the pressure and keep faith in his system.
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What did Wayne Rooney say?
Wayne Rooney didn’t hold back when reflecting on Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat to Brentford. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the club’s all-time top scorer admitted he has lost faith in the current setup. “I’m not seeing anything that gives me confidence,” he said. “There need to be big changes — whether that’s the manager, the players, or both. Whatever it takes to get Manchester United back.”
Rooney, who scored 253 goals in 559 appearances for United and lifted 17 major trophies, also shared a personal concern. With two of his sons now in the club’s academy, he worries about the environment they are growing up in. “There needs to be a clear message from the owners — whether that’s the Glazers or Sir Jim Ratcliffe,” he added. “Right now, it feels like everyone is waiting for the club to crumble. The culture of Manchester United has gone. I see it every day — staff leaving, people losing jobs. What I see now is not the Manchester United I knew.”
The criticism comes during another rocky spell for Ruben Amorim. United not only sit 14th in the Premier League with three losses from six games, but they also crashed out of the Carabao Cup to League Two side Grimsby — a result that has further dented morale.
Last season was already the club’s worst in Premier League history, finishing 15th with just 42 points under Amorim, who arrived in November and is under contract until 2027. With pressure mounting from fans, pundits, and legends like Rooney, Amorim has continued to defend his 3-4-2-1 system, insisting that tactical shape isn’t United’s biggest issue.
Saturday’s clash with Sunderland could now prove decisive. A win might buy Amorim more time, but another defeat would only intensify the growing calls for change.
